-- Boston's Hidden Restaurants --

The Paddock

249 Pearl Street, Somerville, MA 02145
(617) 628-6525 Find location!
--- Winner, Best Pizza in Boston Area, 2005 ---

Photo of The Paddock, in Somerville, MA Not too long ago, the city of Somerville was a gritty, close-knit community filled with local restaurants and pubs where residents often went after a long hard day at work. While Somerville has changed greatly over the past couple of decades, there are still neighborhoods that retain the feel of old Somerville, including a handful of dining establishments that are frequented mainly by locals. And one of the best of these is The Paddock, a family-style restaurant within sight of City Hall on the outskirts of Winter Hill.

The Paddock is not a restaurant that people find on their own; indeed, this dining spot is on a little-traveled street that is mostly residential, in an area that has been mostly untouched by gentrification. And The Paddock reflects this, as it is about as unpretentious and, well, REAL, as any other restaurant in the city. The inside of The Paddock is comfortable in an old-fashioned way, with vinyl booths and long tables lining the main room. And while the menu is extensive, with everything from steak tips (excellent, by the way) to chicken parmigiana to shellfish, the pizza is what brings people to The Paddock. The thin-crust pies here have a perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and oil, and they are not unlike the pizzas at such stalwarts as Villa Rosa in Quincy or even perhaps Pizzeria Regina, although few places, including The Paddock, can match the pizza at that venerable North End establishment.

The Paddock probably won't win any awards for ambiance, and it is not a place to go if you are looking to do a power lunch, but this throwback of a restaurant is one of the true hidden gems of the Greater Boston area. If you are a pizza lover and don't want to deal with the parking hassles at Pizzeria Regina or East Boston's Santarpio's, head over to The Paddock for some pizza and get a taste of the Somerville of old.